Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: Police arrested a butcher for selling meat at exorbitant rate in Batamaloo area of Srinagar city.

Taking advantage of prevailing situation emerging out of Coronaviurs, vegetable sellers, vendors and butchers loot people at will while the lack of regulation has emboldened them. Almost every butcher is selling meat, on a rate of their own.

A police official told KNT that people complained that a butcher identified as Waseem Ahmed Shigan son of Manzoor Ahmed Shigan, a resident of SD Colony, Batamaloo is selling meat at Rs 600 per Kilogram.

A police team rushed to spot and found the complaints true. “The butcher was arrested and an FIR vide number 54/2020 under section 188, ¾ Essential Commodities Act was registered against him,” he said. (KNT)

Area being sanitized, people requested not to go closer to gunfight spot: Police

Shopian: Three militants were killed while as an army officer, a soldier and a civilian were injured in an encounter at Melhoora village of Zainapora area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district officials said.

The Mehloora gunfight started yesterday and all three militant bodies have been recovered while as a woman sustained injury. Pertinently, four militants of AGH were killed in an encounter with the forces in the same village last week.

An official told new agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that three militants have been killed. He said an Army officer, a soldier and a woman also sustained injuries during the gunfight. The injured civilians were rushed to Srinagar hospital for treatment. The injured woman was identified as Shahnaza Bano.

Earlier, officials said that on specific inputs about the presence of militants, a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched in the area by joint team of forces including 55 RR and Shopian Police.

During the searches, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, which was retaliated, thus triggering an encounter, they said.

Meanwhile, security forces are sanitizing the area and have appealed the people not to go closer to the encounter spot till the site is properly sanitized—(KNO)

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Shopian: Two militants were killed while an Army man and a civilian sustained injuries in an ongoing encounter in Melhoora village of Zainapora Sub division of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

Pertinently, four militants of AGH were killed in an encounter with the forces in Melhoora village last week.

An official told new agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that two militants have been killed in an exchange of fire while as operation is still on in the area.

He said an Army man and a civilian also sustained injuries during the gunfight, who rushed to the hospital for treatment. Sources said that the injured civilian has been shifted to Srinagar’s SMHS hospital for advanced treatment.

Earlier, officials said that on specific inputs about the presence of militants, a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched in the area by joint team of forces including 55 RR and Shopian Police.

During the searches, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, which was retaliated, thus triggering an encounter, they said—(KNO)

Srinagar: An army soldier was injured in an ongoing encounter at Melhoora area of Shopian district in south Kashmir on Tuesday. Two civilians were also injured near the encounter site and one of them, a woman, was hit with a bullet in her leg.

Reports reaching GNS said that a soldier suffered bullet wounds in the operation. Two militants have also been killed during the initial exchange of fire.

Two civilians sustained injures near the site. Among them, a woman Shahnaza Bano wife of Farooq Ahmad Koka suffered bullet and was shifted to a nearby hospital wherefrom she was referred to SMHS hospital Srinagar.

Another civilian Asif Ahmad Reshi son of Nissar Reshi of Watchi according to reports suffered pellet wounds after police and paramilitary forces chased a group of youth near the encounter site. All the injured have been moved to different hospitals.

Earlier, a joint team of SOG and army’s 55 RR laid a siege in Melhora village.

A police officer said that the operation was launched following specific inputs about the presence of some militants.

The joint team of forces while intensifying the searches fired several warning shots towards the suspected spot, the militants hiding in the area opened indiscriminate fire triggering off a fierce gunfight, he said.

“So far two militants were killed in the operation. The identities and group affiliation of the slain are being ascertained,” he said.

The officer said that the operation may stretch throughout the night even as lights have been already erected and exit points sealed with additional reinforcements. (GNS)

Rajouri: Advisor to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Khan on Tuesday castigated Pakistan for repeated ceasefire violations along Line of Control and attempts to push in infiltrators amid Coronavirus pandemic across the globe.

Talking to media persons in Rajouri on the side-lines of his visit in Rajouri, Khan said that “Pakistan is not learning a lesson even after being bashed multiple times in past. They have been hit many a times in the past but the neighbour is not ready to learn a lesson.” Khan said.

“Presently at a time when entire world is suffering from Corona pandemic, our neighbour, Pakistan is carrying forward its nefarious designs,” Khan said as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Correspondent, adding that these nefarious designs include ceasefire violation on Line of Control and attempts to push in militants. “Our forces are not sitting in a silent mode but are giving befitting reply to such nefarious designs.” Khan said.

Advisor Farooq Khan further said that “we are hopeful that losses suffered by Pakistan in present times may give a lesson to Pakistan.” –(KNO)

OPDs shut, surgeries on hold, large chunk of patients face serious health issues, Non-COVID patients get treatment normally, claims Div Com

Srinagar: As government focuses exclusively on Covid-19 pandemic with all its men and machinery fighting the deadly pandemic, non-covid patients have been left in lurch as many leading hospitals have been designated as covid-19 hospitals where only Coronavirus patients are being treated.

The closure of out-patients department (OPD) and putting the surgeries on hold has added to the problems of the patients who have health issues other than Covid. In order to contain the situation and avoid the spread of covid-19, authorities shut OPDs in major hospitals and dedicate their men and machinery to fight the deadly pandemic.

As several major hospitals were turned into covid-19 quarters and OPDs were closed, the non Covid patients in Jammu and Kashmir are facing immense hardships.

“My wife is a suffering from Asthma and was getting treated at CD hospital since many years ” said Shabir Ahmad a resident of Pulwama told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), adding that as CD hospital has been designated as covid hospital, he is in a dilemma where to take his wife for treatment.

“The doctor who was treating her was aware about her history of ailment and I fail to understand how a new doctor can treat her,” he said. Ghulam Nabi, another patient from Bijbehara area of Anantnag district having chest ailments said that he was being treated at GMC Anantnag however, GMC Anantnag is specially now only for covid-19, he is unable to get treatment.

“Since OPD at GMC Anantnag has been closed, we were now planning to take him to SKIMS or SMHS but there are no transport facilities available,” said son-in-law of Ghulam Nabi

With most doctors are busy in dealing with covid-19, dozens of families with ailing patients are finding themselves at the crossroads of the health crisis. “People suffer from lot of life threatening diseases here,” said a doctor, adding that they need regular checkups and follow-up but government is asking such patients to consult the doctors online.

“How is it possible to treat critical ailments over a phone call, that too by a doctor who isn’t aware about medical history of the patient,” the doctor said.

“There are hundreds of patients who are unable to contact doctors online and mostly doctors are being contacted, their numbers usually come busy,” he said.

Another doctor at JVC Bemina said that most non-covid patients who were being treated at JVC Bemina, CD hospital Srinagar, JLNM Srinagar and other major hospitals are still unaware where they have go for treatment.

He said that one who was getting treatment at CD hospital is of the opinion that he won’t get treatment anywhere till CD hospital won’t be reopened for all patients after covid-19 pandemic will be over.

“It is very important that government is focusing on covid-19 but that doesn’t mean we can let it overshadow non covid patients,” Doctors association Kashmir president Dr Nisar Ul Hassan told KNO.

He said that there are dozens of deaths every day in valley due to non covid ailments but that is not reported as “our whole focus is on covid-19 due to which out of around 600 patients, 7 have died with all of them were having other ailments.”

Doctors at SMHS hospital said that they are hardly receiving 20 to 30 percent patients of that they were receiving before covid-19. There should have been huge rush of patients at SMHS as all other major hospital have been kept for covid-19 patients but only critical patients come to hospital, they said.

Patients are facing lot of inconveniences in terms of getting pass, transport facility and other issues, due to which most patients are avoiding check-ups and follow-ups which otherwise is very important for them.

Meanwhile, Division commissioner Kashmir PK Pole told KNO that non-covid patients are being treated at Primary health centres, sub district hospitals and if there is any critical case they are being shifted to SKIMS or SMHS.

“Every facility including all medicines are available for non-Covid patients. We have directed private hospitals to resume their work as well so that non-covid patients won’t suffer any more,” he said.

Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar Principal Dr Samia Rashid told KNO that every day hundreds of non-covid patients are being treated at SMHS, LD and GB Pant including cancer patients.

Asked OPDs have been closed, she said that OPDs are closed but hundreds of critical patients are being admitted in emergency every day and are accordingly being shifted to other wards.

Dr Farooq Jan Medical Superintendent SKIMS told KNO that due to lock down the patient rush has decreased by 40% but every non-covid patient is being treated at SKIMS normally.

“We never closed OPD or emergency ward at SKIMS, he said, adding that since covid started in Kashmir, over 45000 patients were treated at SKIMS.

He further added that over 400 major surgeries were also conducted at SKIMS since first case of covid-19 was tested positive in valley,” he said—(KNO)

Srinagar: Kashmir’s hotels and restaurant owner’s association (KHARA) Tuesday said it has suffered huge losses and it can’t be estimated by numbers stating that post August 5 last year their units remained shut and now Covid-19 pandemic has hit their peak business season.

The association of hotels and restaurants in Kashmir believes that the losses suffered during this pandemic are irreparable and the peak season that witnesses a huge rush of tourists from March to mid-July is almost gone.

It also said that since last year post August 5 after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A, the unprecedented situation had hit their business with hotels and restaurants across the valley shut for more than four months.

Talking exclusively to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Mushtaq Ahmed Burza, president KHARA said the losses suffered by valley hotels and restaurants can’t be measured in numbers, it’s in crores and since August last year they have only witnessed huge losses in business due to halt in tourism activities.

He said ever since the virus has hit the globe including Kashmir it has widely hit the tourism sector and it will definitely take long to recover from it. “Now even if it ends still the tourism sector will have to bear the brunt since social distancing and other protocols will take much time.”
He said that the approximate losses are thousands of crores and the losses started last year post August 05 after the unprecedented situation.

“However, officials from tourism industry and other sectors managed to motivate people from outside to visit Jammu and Kashmir this season but before the season could commence this pandemic arrived and hit our business,” he said.

He said the hoteliers have hardly managed to pay the wages of workers for the month of march but when the owner is himself out of money what will he give to them who are also affected due this lockdown and many of them are jobless now.

Referring to the most attractive tourist destinations in Kashmir valley, Pahalgam and Gulmarg he said the hotels and restaurants functioning there are in total loss and have no work for a long time now.

“If it was in hundreds and thousands the estimated loss would have been easy to say but when there is total loss in everything what is there left to say about these tourist spots,” he said.

He also said the peak season for the Kashmir valley commences from March and lasts till mid-July with huge attendance of tourists but this year Covid-19 hit their businesses hard and last year the losses they suffered were due to abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A on August 05—(KNO)

Almost a quarter of the world’s unimmunised or partially immunised children – about 4.5 million children – live in South Asia.

PTI

Expressing concern over the disruptions caused in immunisations due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Tuesday that South Asia could face yet another health emergency if children across the region did not receive their life-saving vaccine shots.

Almost a quarter of the world’s unimmunised or partially immunised children – about 4.5 million children – live in South Asia. Almost all of them, or 97%, live in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

With lockdown in place as a part of the novel coronavirus response, routine immunisations have been severely disrupted and parents are increasingly reluctant to take their children to health centres for routine jabs. Sporadic outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles and diphtheria, have already been seen in parts of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal.

The South Asia region is also home to two of the last polio endemic countries in the world, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Vaccine stocks are running dangerously low in some countries of the region as supply chains have been disrupted with travel bans and cancelled flights. The manufacturing of the vaccines has also been disrupted, creating additional shortages, says Paul Rutter, Regional Health Advisor for UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA).

Many of the health facilities throughout the region, where millions of children are normally vaccinated, have been closed and outreach sessions have been suspended, adding to the challenge.

South Asia could face yet another health emergency if children across the region do not receive their life-saving vaccine shots, the UNICEF said.

As long as frontline health workers take the appropriate precautions, particularly washing their hands, there is no reason not to vaccinate – in fact, it is crucial that vaccination continues, says Rutter.

Across the region, national mass vaccination campaigns have been postponed. Bangladesh and Nepal have postponed their national measles and rubella campaigns while Pakistan and Afghanistan have suspended their polio campaigns.

The UNICEF strongly recommends that, where immunisation campaigns are suspended, governments begin rigorous planning now to intensify immunisation activities once the COVID-19 pandemic is under control.

We are very concerned about the impact of not getting children vaccinated, says Jean Gough, Director of UNICEF ROSA.

Srinagar: Two militants have been killed in ongoing encounter which broke between goverment forces and militants in Melhora Area of Zainapora in South Kashmir’s Shopian District on Tuesday.

Official sources told GNS that two militants were killed in a gunfight. However identity of the slain militant is yet to be ascertained as operation is still underway

Earlier reports reaching GNS said that a joint team of Police and army’s 55 RR launched cordon and search operation in Melhora.

As the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, triggering an encounter.(GNS)